Gomel secured a comprehensive 84-44 victory over Grodno GRSU in the Premier League on Thursday, hauling in away points and effectively ending the hosts' hopes of maintaining their perfect record at home. The result sees the visitors close the gap on the leaders while Grodno GRSU suffer their fifth defeat of the campaign.
The home side arrived with 19 wins from 24 games and had not tasted defeat since the opening weeks of the season, but the visitors got in behind their defence early and never looked back. Gomel's shooting was clinical when it mattered, while Grodno GRSU appeared to have lost their rhythm after a heavy 48-104 loss to TsMoki-Minsk on Wednesday.
By then the contest was essentially over, with Gomel building a lead that would prove insurmountable. The hosts tried to respond through their usual patterns of play, but the visitors were running out of games and seemed unable to find any response. The visitors held their nerve throughout, refusing to let the lead slip despite some sloppy moments in the final quarter.
Grodno GRSU's form has taken a turn for the worse since their last loss, with three defeats in five games including this one. The visitors, meanwhile, have shown resilience since their defeat to Borisfen, winning two of their last three outings and proving they can compete on the road against the league's top sides.
The result leaves Grodno GRSU top of the table with 24 points but with five losses now on their tally. Gomel remain fourth with 18 points and five games remaining, a position that keeps them in contention for a higher finish if they can string together some wins.
